“Southern soul” artist Rissi Palmer, the Latin-rock fusion band Making Movies, the funky Get Right Band, and UNC Asheville’s faculty jazz musicians will be featured in four concerts when UNC Asheville’s Concerts on the Quad return with free Monday evening shows in June and July.

The free concerts take place June 18 and 25, and July 9 and 16, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. on the UNC Asheville Quad. Concert-goers are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy along with the music. Meals, treats and drinks will be available from concession stands on the Quad.

June 18 – Making Movies – This quartet has toured with Ozomatli, Los Lobos, and Hurray for the Riff Raff, has played at the Kennedy Center, and released three albums, including the 2017 release, I Am Another You, praised by NPR as “lyrically and sonically one of the best albums of the year.” Made up of two brothers, Enrico and Diego Chi, and Juan-Carlos and Andres Chaurand, Making Movies describes its music as a mix of psychedelia, experimental rock, son Cubano, cumbia and various rhythms descended from Yoruba music.

July 9 – The Get Right Band – Described as “hip-shaking, earthquaking pure funk fun” by The Alternate Root, The Get Right Band also was voted Best Jam/Progressive Band two years ago by Mountain Xpress readers. The band combines the talents of singer/guitarist Silas Durocher and bassist Jesse Gentry, who have been friends since middle school, and drummer Jian-Claude Mears. The Get Right Band’s third and most recent album, Who’s in Charge?, was recorded in Asheville at Echo Mountain Studios.

July 16 – Rissi Palmer – Palmer, who describes her style as “Southern soul,” has appeal for fans of country music as well as soul. Her 2007 debut single, Country Girl, became the first song recorded by an African-American woman to hit the country music charts in 20 years. Last year, she teamed with Brian Owens on Soul of Cash, a tribute album of Johnny Cash’s music. In between, she has performed at the White House, the Grand Ole Opry, Lincoln Center, appeared on Oprah & Friends, and recorded a children’s album, Best Day Ever. Palmer is working on a new album to be released later this year.

Concerts on the Quad are sponsored by the Asheville Citizen-Times and Ingles. For more information, visit unca.edu/concerts

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